12 months on, Leeds show slight improvements under Bielsa

Marcelo Bielsa has become an instant hit at Leeds following his appointment in the summer, helping establish the Peacocks in the Championship’s top three.

Leeds have lost just once so far this season and enter October’s international break sitting pretty in third position, two points behind league leaders Sheffield United and five above seventh-placed Bristol City who are just outside the playoff spots.

Optimism at Elland Road has risen significantly since the end of last season but fans should be wary of getting too excited at this early stage, as Leeds found themselves in a similar position 12 months ago.

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At this stage last year, Leeds were seventh in the table after picking up 20 points from their opening 12 matches, suffering a narrow defeat to Reading in their 12th match in a game where Pablo Hernandez also missed a late penalty.

Leeds, therefore, are just three points better off than they were at this stage last season despite the vast praise that Bielsa has earned and it is clear that there is still plenty of work to be done if a promotion is to be secured.

However, there is positives to look at as Leeds had lost four times in the league at this stage under Thomas Christiansen including a run of four defeats in five games between matchday eight and 12.